Technology in Learning

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) at The Grange P-12 College

“Significant changes in Victoria’s economy mean there is a greater need for STEM capabilities than ever before. Our employers are increasingly looking for workers who are creative problem solvers, innovative and critical thinkers, and able to use new technologies” (STEM in the Education State, Victoria, 2016).

The Grange P-12 College has a strong STEM-based approach at all levels, underpinned by a focus on developing skills in inquiry and problem solving, and supported by specialist staff.

We have a dedicated STEM room at both the Callistemon and Deloraine Campus which allows our students access to an exciting Makerspace and design area.

In the early primary years at the Callistemon Campus, students are exposed to a range of topics within an inquiry approach, which fosters a love of learning about the natural world. This is integrated through such topics as earth science, life cycles of living things (eg. mini- beasts) as well as forces of nature and motion of objects. Later primary years focus further on electricity and science across the world, whilst delving into the exciting multi-media world of animation, coding, robotics, digital photography and graphic design.

As students enter early secondary schooling at our Deloraine Campus, they will extend their inquiry and problem-solving skills by studying at least one dedicated STEM unit as part of our Core Science subject. In Year 7, our physics unit is STEM based and focused around forces and how we can safely design an “egg parachute”. In Year 8 our students need to design and build a solar car which links in with mathematical concepts such as calculating speed and the effect of wind resistance on the car design. In Year 9 physics, our STEM unit is around Wiring a model house, using both parallel and series circuits. Our Year 10 students STEM unit is based around the concept that, the motion of an object involves the interaction of forces and the exchange of energy.

In the middle and later years of schooling, students begin to specialize their STEM focus in such areas as robotics, coding, application design and game development

The College maintains excellent relationships with local Universities and provides opportunities for students to participate in extra-curricular programs such as the Grade 6 REAL robotics program and the Year 10 Science and Engineering Challenge with Victoria University. Our annual STEM Night offers all students and their families an exciting evening full of fun, engaging hands-on experiments, competitions and demonstrations by staff and students alike.